Toy



Aug. 29, 1944.

F. J. EBELIN G TOY Filed Nov. 25, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 29, 1944. F. J. vEBE'LJNG TOY Filled- NOv. 23, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 19,44

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY p Frederick J. Ebeling, Staunton, va.' Application November 23, v194.3, SerialNo. 511,445 (C1. yi6- 201) 7`Claims.

My invention relates to toys and more particularly to a wheeled toy.

The principal object of the invention isfto'provide a wheeled toy having a number of separate parts which may be easily assembled in a variety of ways by a young child. Y f

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy'having a plurality of wheeled units of such character that they may be either used separately or'easily combined-into-a single operative device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and. inexpensive wheeled toy which is made entirely of wood and has a plurality ofmovable parts.

A primary feature offthe invention consists in providing a. toy with a plurality of. independent units each havingV a rigid member and wheels arranged on opposite sides thereofA infrictional engagement with the Wheels of the other unit, some of the wheels on one unit being arrangedV in. overlapping relation withv the rigid 'member of the other unit for limiting lateral movement of the units.

Another feature.Y of the invention consists -in providing a toy withf a plurality of pairsfof-wheels and a member revoluble about Ian axis substantially normal to the axes of the wheels which isY frictionally engageable with both wheels of one of the pairs.

Other and more specific' features of the inven-V Each pair of Wheels is freely rotatable and preferably mounted on the ends of axles which ex tend through suitable openings in the connecting member 3. The opening in the wheels into which the outer ends of the axlesextend are of sub.- stantially the same diameter'as the axles so that the wheels will be frictionally held thereon whiley which the axles' extend are of greater diameter tion, residing. in advantageous forms, cornbina-y l views illustrating some of the ways in which the various parts ofthe toy may be assembled andv` used.

In the particular embodiment of the inventionV illustrated in the drawings, the toy isv formedy of two wheeled unitsv but it is, of course, to be appreciated that a greater number of wheeled units may be employed if desired.

The main unitv l comprises. a plurality of pairs of wheels 2 which may advantageously be connected by a rigid block-like member. 3 which islinterposed between the wheels n of each pair.,

than the axles so that the latter are freely ro-y tatable. 1

The upper or auxiliary unit 5 of the toy isv of similar construction 'tothe main unit l but instead of having threey pairs of wheels it prefer' ably has but two pairs." Like themainY unit, the auxiliary unit comprises 'a' plurality ofr pairsy of wheels 6 frictionally held on the outer end of axles fl extendingv through openingsv in a rigid connecting member 8, the diameter of these openings being substantially. larger than that of the axlesI so that the axles are .freely rotatable` therein. I

, Y The arrangement and diameter of the Wheels of thetwo units is such that, when the upper unit` is placedv on the lower unit, the wheels 6 of' the upper unit frictionally engage the wheels 2v ofV the lower unit and the connecting member 8 of the upper unit will be supported by the axles 1 in spaced relationv tothe connecting member 3 of the lowerunit- It will thus be apparent that, when the lower unit is pulled along the oor'and the wheels 2 are caused to rotate, the wheels' 6 of the upper'unit will also becaused to rotateY but in the opposite. direction. The wheels of at least one of the units are of such diameter thatV` Removably mounted within an'op'ening 9 in the" rigidl member 8l fof Vthel upper unit is an upwardly extending spindle or-the like l0'which affords-a'.-

pivotal mounting for a turret-.like member Il.'` The spindle extends withinan opening in4 theA r member il. which isl of substantially greater diameter than the spindle so that the turret is freely rotatable thereon" and may angle slightlyl i withjrespect thereto. The member ll maybe formed to simulate the appearance of a turret on a tank and to .carry out this effect it may be advantageously Aformedl withan opening in its sideL into which a rod or the like I2, representing a gunmay be inserted.

The under side ofk the turret is formed withn an inclined portion I3 which is frictionallyV'en- Figure 8.

gageable with both wheels of one of the pairs of wheels of the upper unit 5. This incline is such that,. when the turret is caused to rotate in one direction, it will move from engagement with one of the wheels with which it is intended to coact and by virtue of its coaction with the other wheel the turret is caused to move upwardly on the spindle I0.

The inclined surface I3 will tend to cause the turret to normally occupy the position shown in Figure 4 or a position at 180 with respect thereto. However, unevenness in the iioor or ground along which the toy is pulled and perhaps also inaccurately made parts of the toy itself will tend to cause the turret to wabble and rotate slightly on its spindle. This tendency of the turret is accentuated by the imbalance imparted to the turret by the rod I2. Whenever because of these factors the turret is lcaused to rotate suihciently, as indicated in full lines in Figure 1, that the frictional force exerted,

turret will then rotate approximately 180 into the dotted line position indicated in Figure 1. The turret will remain in this position until the frictional forces which are exerted by its two supporting wheels on its inclined under surface are suiciently out of balance to cause the turret to rotate again.

It lis apparent that the construction of the Wheeled units of the toy is such that they may be assembled in relations other than that shown in Figures l to 3, inclusive. For example, the upper unit instead of being arranged centrally with respect to the lower unit may be arranged as shown in Figure 5 or the two units may be inverted as shown in Figure 6 so that what has been described as the upper unit becomes the lower 'unit and what has been described as the lower unit becomes the upper unit. The turret II can, of course, still be used when the units are thus assembled by`mere1y providing the connecting member 3 of the upper unit with a suitable opening into whilch the spindle I may be inserted.

Not only are the two units capable of being conjointly used in various ways but each unit is capable of separate use if that be desired. Thus the upper unit with the turret may be used independently of the lower unit, as shown in Figure 4. Moreover, other removable parts are capable of being easily associated with either one or the other of the two units so that their separate use might be rendered more appealing and interesting to a child. For example, the connecting member 3 of the main unit I can be provided with apertures I 4 to receive pegs or the like for supporting elements I which, if desired, may simulate turrets. Likewise the auxiliary unit 5 may be provided with one or more apertures, such as indicated at I6, to receive a peg on which element I1 simulating an antiaircraft gun might be mounted, as shown in It will, of xcourse, be appreciated that members of any desired form may be made available for removable association with either of the wheeled units in place of those members shown in Figures 7 and'8 of the drawings.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a simple and inexpensive toy is provided consisting of a plurality of wheeled units which may be easily asssembled by even the youngest child sembled for separate use. Various changes and modifications may be made in the details of the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wheeled toy including two superposed unconnected units each having a rigid member provided with a plurality of wheels on opposite sides thereof, the wheels of each unit being in frictional engagement with the wheels of the other unit and the wheels of one of said units being arranged to overlap opposite sides of the rigid member of the other unit for preventing relative lateral movement of said units.

2l. A wheeled toy including two superposed unconnected units each having a rigid. member, axles extending from opposite sides of each of said rigid members and wheels carried on the outer ends of said axles, the wheels of each unit being in frictional engagement with the wheels of the other unit and the wheels of one of said units being arranged in overlapping relation to the opposite sides of the rigid member of the other unit for limiting relative lateral movement of said units;

3. A wheeled toy including two superposed units each having a plurality of pairs of wheels in frictional engagement with the wheels of the other unit, and a member rotatably mounted on the upper one of said units for movement about an axis substantially normal to the axes of said wheels, the under side of said rotatable member being frictionally engageable with both wheels of one of the pairs of wheels of said upper unit, said member being adapted to, wabble indiscriminately with respect to its axis of rotation so that the frictional fonce exerted thereon by one of the wheels of the last named pair is suf- Y for conjoint use or which may be readily disasciently greater than the frictional force exerted thereon by the-other one of the wheels of the last named pair to cause partial rotation of the member upon normal travel of the toy.

4. A wheeled toy` including two superposed units each having a plurality of pairs of wheels in frictional engagement with the wheels of the other unit, la shaft extending upwardly from the upper one of said units, and a rotatable member loosely encircling said shaft engageable with both wheels of one of the pairs of wheels of said upper unit, said member being adapted to wabble indiscriminately with respect to its axis of rotation so that the frictional force exerted thereon by one of the wheels of the last named pair is suiliciently greater than the frictional fonce exerted thereon by the other one of the wheels of the last named pair to cause partial rotation of the member upon normal travel of the toy.

5. A wheeled toy comprising a ,plurality of pairs of supporting wheels, a connecting member for said wheels interposed between the wheels of each pair, and a rigid member rotatably mounted on said connecting member for movement about an axis Substantially normal to the axes ofsaid wheels, said rotatable member being frictionally engageable with both wheels of one of said pairs of wheels and being adapted to wabble indiscriminately with respect to its axis of rotation so that the frictional force exerted thereon by one of the Wheels of the last named pair is sufficiently greater than the frictional fonce exerted thereon by the other one of the wheels of said last named ,pair to 'cause partial rotation of the member upon normal travel of the toy.

6. A wheeled toy comprising a plurality of pairs of supporting wheels, a connecting member for said wheels interposed between the Wheels of each pair, and a rigid member rotatably mounted on said connecting member for movement about an axis substantially normal to the axes of said wheels, the under side of said rotatable member being inclined and being frictionally engageable with both of the wheels of one of said pairs of wheels', said member being adapted to wabble indiscriminately with respect to its axis of rotation so that the frictional force` exerted thereon by one of the wheels of the last pairs of supporting wheels, a connecting mem' ber for said ,wheels interposed between the wheels of each pair, aspindle extending upwardly from said connecting member, and a revoluble member loosely encircling said spindle and having an inclined portion on its under side, said inclined portion being frictionally engageable with both of the wheels of one of said pairs of Wheels and being movable from engagement with one of said wheels upon rotation of the revoluble member, said member being adapted to wabb-le indiscriminately with respect to its axis of rotation so that the frictional force exerted thereon by one of the wheels of the last named pair is sufciently greater than -the frictional Vforce exerted thereon by the other one of the wheels of the last named pair to cause partial rotation of the member upon normal travel of the toy.

FREDERICK J. EBELING. 

